Some of Hollywood’s hottest directors will join Michael Giacchino on stage at the acclaimed composer’s first ever major career retrospective – a one-off celebration being held at the Royal Albert Hall in October.

Gareth Edwards (Rogue One), Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World), Carlton Cuse (TV’s Lost) and Pixar alumni Pete Docter (Up, Inside Out), Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol) and Andrew Stanton (who worked with Giacchino on John Carter) are all confirmed for the show on Friday 20 October, and will introduce music from their memorable collaborations with Michael.

Giacchino – who won an Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Grammy for his accompaniment to Pixar’s heartbreaking, heartwarming Up – will also present music from War for the Planet of the Apes, Marvel movies, and the cult video game, Medal of Honor, at the event, which is being hosted by TV personality and special effects whiz, Adam Savage (Mythbusters).
Lucy Noble, Artistic Director at the Royal Albert Hall, said: “We’re so thrilled to welcome some of Hollywood’s most exciting and talented filmmakers to the Hall to help celebrate Michael’s 50 th birthday. The Festival of Film exists to bring movie music to centre-stage, and this unmissable one-off event will be full of special guests, surprises and unforgettable scores.”

Michael Giacchino was born in New Jersey in October 1967. He began his career writing video game music for DreamWorks, and after being talent-spotted by Steven Spielberg, became the first person to write an orchestral score for the PlayStation.

His work sparked the interest of producer and director J. J. Abrams, and their relationship led to scores for the hit TV series Alias and Lost – for which he an Emmy – followed by feature films, Mission Impossible III, Super 8, Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness.

Meanwhile, he became one of animation studio Pixar’s favourite composers, creating the music for smash-hit successes Ratatouille, The Incredibles, Inside Out and, most memorably, Up. His score for that instant classic included the immortal ‘Married Life’, and won him an Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Grammy.

Subsequent successes have included Jurassic World, Zootropolis, Doctor Strange and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, being the musical director for the Oscars in 2008, and dominating this summer at the box-office, with the scores for War for the Planet of the Apes and Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Michael Giacchino at 50: A Birthday Gala Celebration is at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday 20 October, 7:30pm only. Tickets priced from £28 are available at www.royalalberthall.com from 10am on Thursday.